TOEFL_Tips
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Often, passages present information about the topic from more than one perspective or point of view.. This is something test takers should note as they read.. Usually, they are asked at least one question that allows them to demonstrate that they understood the general organization of the passage.. Common organization types that test takers should be able to recognize are:
●● classification
●● compare/contrast ●● cause/effect
●● problem/solution
Test takers must read through or scroll to the end of each passage before receiving questions on that passage.. Once the questions appear, the passage appears on the right side of the computer screen.. The questions are on the left.. (See the illustration that follows..)
Test takers do not need any special background knowledge to answer the questions in the Reading section correctly, but the definition of difficult words or phrases in the passage may be provided.. If test takers click on the word, a definition appears in the lower left part of the screen..
The 60 to 100 minutes allotted for this section include time for reading the passages and answering the questions..
Reading Question Formats
There are three question formats in the Reading section:
●● questions with four choices and a single answer in traditional multiple-choice format
●● questions with four choices and a single answer that ask test takers to “insert a sentence” where it fits best in a passage
●● new “reading to learn” questions with more than four choices and more than one possible correct answer.. (See page 10..)
iBT TOEFL the About
About the TOEFL iBT 9
What is Different?
●● Reading to learn questions
These questions test the student’s ability to recognize how the passage is organized and understand the relationships among facts and ideas in different parts of the passage.. Test takers sort information and place the text options provided into a category chart or summary.. The summary questions are worth up to 2 points each.. The chart questions are worth up to 3 points if there are five options presented, and up to 4 points if there are seven options presented.. Partial credit is given in this question format..
●● Paraphrase questions
Questions in this category are in multiple-choice format.. They test the student’s ability to select the answer choice that most accurately paraphrases a sentence from the passage..
●● Glossary feature
Test takers can now click on some special purpose words and phrases in the reading passages to view a definition or explanation of the term.. In the example below, test takers can click on the word “shamans” to view its definition..
10 TOEFL iBT Tips
Reading to Learn—Category Chart Question Example
iBT TOEFL the About
Reading to Learn—Summary Question Example
About the TOEFL iBT 11
B. TOEFL iBT Listening Section
Academic Listening Skills
The Listening section measures the test taker’s ability to understand spoken English.. In academic settings, students must be able to listen to lectures and conversations.. Academic listening is typically done for one of the three following purposes:
Listening for basic comprehension
●● comprehend the main idea, major points, and important details related to the main idea (Note: comprehension of all details is not necessary..)
Listening for pragmatic understanding
●● recognize a speaker’s attitude and degree of certainty ●● recognize a speaker’s function or purpose
Connecting and synthesizing5 information
●● recognize the organization of information presented
●● understand the relationships between ideas presented (for example, compare/ contrast, cause/effect, or steps in a process)
●● make inferences6 and draw conclusions based on what is implied in the material ●● make connections among pieces of information in a conversation or lecture
●● recognize topic changes (for example, digressions7 and aside statements8) in lectures and conversations, and recognize introductions and conclusions in lectures
Description
Listening material in the new test includes academic lectures and long conversations in which the speech sounds very natural.. Test takers can take notes on any listening material throughout the entire test..
Listening Section Format
Listening Material |
Number of Questions |
Timing |
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4–6 lectures, 3–5 minutes long each, |
6 questions per lecture |
60–90 minutes |
about 500–800 words |
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2–3 conversations, about 3 minutes |
5 questions per conversation |
60–90 minutes |
long, about 12–25 exchanges |
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5Synthesize—To combine information from two or more sources
6Make an inference—To comprehend an argument or an idea that is strongly suggested, but not explicitly stated in a passage
7Digressions—Side comments in which the speaker briefly moves away from the main topic and then returns
8Aside statements—Comments that are relevant to the main theme, but interrupt the flow of information or ideas (Example: “Pay attention now, this will be on the test..”)
12 TOEFL iBT Tips
Academic Lectures
The lectures in the TOEFL iBT reflect the kind of listening and speaking that occurs in the classroom.. In some of the lectures, the professor does all or almost all of the talking, with an occasional comment by a student.. In other lectures, the professor may engage the students in discussion by asking questions that are answered by the students.. The pictures that accompany the lecture help the test taker know whether one or several people will be speaking..
A Lecture Where the Professor Is the Only Speaker
A Lecture Where the Professor and the Students Both Speak
iBT TOEFL the About
About the TOEFL iBT 13
Conversations in an Academic Setting
The conversations on the TOEFL iBT may take place during an office meeting with a professor or teaching assistant, or during a service encounter with university staff.. The contents of the office conversations are generally academic in nature or related to course requirements.. Service encounters could involve conversations about a housing payment, registering for a class, or requesting information at the library..
Pictures on the computer screen help test takers imagine the setting and the roles of the speakers..
Conversation Example
Listening Question Formats
After the listening material is played, test takers both see and hear each question before they see the answer choices.. This encourages them to listen for main ideas..
There are four question formats in the Listening section:
●● traditional multiple-choice questions with four answer choices and a single correct answer
●● multiple-choice questions with more than one answer (e..g.., two answers out of four or more choices)
●● questions that require test takers to order events or steps in a process
●● questions that require test takers to match objects or text to categories in a chart
14 TOEFL iBT Tips
Chart Question Example
iBT TOEFL the About
What is Different?
●● Note taking is allowed.. After testing, notes are collected and destroyed before the test takers leave the test center for test security purposes..
●● Conversations and lectures are longer, and the language sounds more natural..
●● A new multiple-choice question measures understanding of a speaker’s attitude, degree of certainty, or purpose.. These questions require test takers to listen for voice tones and other cues, and determine how speakers feel about the topic they are discussing..
●● In some questions, a portion of the lecture or conversation is replayed so test takers do not need to rely on memory of what was said..
In the replay format, test takers listen to part of the conversation or lecture again and then answer a question.. Sometimes the question repeats a portion of the listening material again, as indicated by the headphones icon in the example on page 16..
About the TOEFL iBT 15
This is an example of a new type of question that measures the comprehension of a speaker’s purpose..
C. TOEFL iBT Speaking Section
Academic Speaking Skills
Students should be able to speak successfully in and outside the classroom.. The Speaking section measures the test taker’s ability to speak effectively in academic settings..
In classrooms, students must:
●● respond to questions
●● participate in academic discussions with other students
●● synthesize9 and summarize what they have read in their textbooks and heard in class ●● express their views on topics under discussion
Outside of the classroom, students must:
●● participate in casual conversations ●● express their opinions
●● communicate with people in such places as the bookstore, the library, and the housing office
Description
The Speaking section is approximately 20 minutes long and includes six tasks..
●● The first two tasks are independent speaking tasks on topics familiar to test takers.. They ask test takers to draw upon their own ideas, opinions, and experiences when responding.. (However, test takers can respond with any idea, opinion, or experience relevant to completing the task..)
9 Synthesize—To combine information from two or more sources
16 TOEFL iBT Tips
●● The remaining four tasks are integrated tasks where test takers must use more than one skill when responding.. Test takers first read and listen, and then speak in response.. They can take notes and use those notes when responding to the speaking tasks.. At least one requires test takers to relate the information from the reading and the listening material..
Like all the other sections of the TOEFL iBT, the Speaking section is delivered via computer.. For all speaking tasks, test takers use headsets with a microphone.. Test takers speak into the microphone to record their responses.. Responses are digitally recorded and sent to ETS’s Online Scoring Network where they are scored by certified raters..
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About the TOEFL iBT 17
Speaking Task Types
Task Type |
Task Description |
Timing |
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Independent Tasks
1. Personal Preference |
This question asks the test taker to express and |
Preparation time: 15 seconds |
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defend a personal choice from a given cat- |
Response time: 45 seconds |
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egory—for example, important people, places, |
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events or activities that the test taker enjoys. |
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2. Choice |
This question asks the test taker to make |
Preparation time: 15 seconds |
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and defend a personal choice between two |
Response time: 45 seconds |
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contrasting behaviors or courses of action. |
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Integrated Tasks |
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Read/Listen/Speak |
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3. Campus Situation |
• A reading passage (75–100 words) presents |
Preparation time: 30 seconds |
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Topic: Fit and |
a campus-related issue. |
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Response time: 60 seconds |
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Explain |
• A listening |
passage |
(60–80 |
seconds, |
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150–180 words) comments on the issue in |
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the reading passage. |
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• The question asks the test taker to sum- |
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marize the speaker’s opinion within the |
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context of the reading passage. |
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4. Academic Course |
• A reading passage (75–100 words) broadly |
Preparation time: 30 seconds |
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Topic: General/ |
defines a term, process, or idea from an |
Response time: 60 seconds |
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Specific |
academic subject. |
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• An excerpt from a lecture (60–90 seconds; |
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150–220 words) provides examples and |
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specific information to illustrate the term, |
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process, or idea from the reading passage. |
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• The question asks the test taker to combine |
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and convey important information from the |
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reading passage and the lecture excerpt. |
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Listen/Speak |
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5. Campus Situation |
• The listening |
passage |
(60–90 |
seconds; |
Preparation time: 20 seconds |
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Topic: Problem/ |
180–220 words) is a conversation about a |
Response time: 60 seconds |
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Solution |
student-related problem and two possible |
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solutions. |
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• The question asks the test taker to dem- |
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onstrate an understanding of the problem |
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and to express an opinion about solving the |
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problem. |
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6. Academic Course |
• The listening passage is an excerpt from a |
Preparation time: 20 seconds |
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Topic: Summary |
lecture (90–120 seconds; 230–280 words) |
Response time: 60 seconds |
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that explains a term or concept and gives |
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concrete examples to illustrate |
that term or |
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concept. |
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• The question asks the test taker to sum- |
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marize the lecture and demonstrate an |
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understanding of the relationship between |
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the examples and the overall topic. |
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TOTAL |
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20 minutes |
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18 TOEFL iBT Tips